Review: CONSTELLATIONS at GableStage

The Probability of Possible Probabilities

If you're one of those whiz bang math hounds who knows all about the scrumptious butterfly in Indonesia who flapped his wings once, blundered into a passing elephant and started the chain of events that culminated in the upright piano falling out the third floor window of a sporting house in downtown Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, three months later, you know all about the chaos theory. And if you've spent more time on Google than is healthy, you also dig The String Theory. So you're gonna love CONSTELLATIONS at GableStage.

Don't worry, though, there's much more than mere maths and physics in producing artistic director Joseph Adler's enigmatic opening play for his 18th season. There's Antonio Amadeo and his wife Katherine Amadeo and those two are more than reason enough to charge on over to GableStage ASAP. (Sorry, no emoji.)

A little clue as to what's going on: The playbill lists Place: The Multiverse. Time: Past, Present and Future. Aha. Now we know what playwright Nick Payne has in mind. It's obvious, really. Things could possibly happen in one's life, and, of course, things could probably happen. And then again, you might make them happen yourself.

There are approximately 437 scene changes in CONSTELLATIONS, each signaled by a dip into darkness as the actors cross the broad stage from one illuminated box to another. That's pretty much the set; and that's all that's needed. The star sprinkled universe appears upstage from time to time.

Wait, you say? Four hundred and thirty seven scene changes? Well, maybe I exaggerate a little. But don't blame me, because each scene is repeated, over and over. Change of location, slight change of dialogue, change of time. Engrossing. Intelligent. Brave.

Katherine Amadeo is Marianne, professor at Cambridge and Antonio Amadeo is a beekeeper. They meet, fall in love. Problems, of course, arise. It's two lives. Does the butterfly change them? Or if it's only a matter of long division, do they choose their own fate?

Writer Nick Payne is English; his writing reflects the sophistication of English humor and the bluntness of every foul curse from Marianne. But ultimately Payne's imagination and willingness to experiment, handled with such grace and wit by the Amadeos, gives a memorable play that is a 70 minute flash in the universe.

Lyle Baskin's minimalistic set, the haunting sound by Matt Corey and Jeff Quinn's compelling lighting are exactly right for the endless what if.

Director Joseph Adler, of course, makes no mistakes.

See CONSTELLATIONS through December 20 at GableStage, 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables. 305-445-1119 http://www.gablestage.org

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